Petition seeks dollars to purchase factory

More than 1100 people have signed a petition calling on Baw Baw Shire Council to financially assist with the purchase of the Old Drouin Butter Factory.

The owners Ken and Heather O’Donnell gave first option to buy to the community with a below market value price tag of $500,000 provided it was retained as a public space for meetings, social gatherings and arts and cultural activities.

A community group The Old Drouin Butter Factory Inc was formed about 18 months ago to try to raise the money but pledges to date amount to only about $25,000.

Chairman Tim Wills said the O’Donnells “had been very generous in allowing the community time to rally support and finance” but were now keen to move on and could seek an open sale in the near future.

The volunteer committee registered as a notfor-profit charity, had professional assessments undertaken of the condition of the buildings and potential costs to bring them up to a standard suitable for public use, developed business and strategic development plans, organised the petition, held public presentations and meetings and met with a number of organisations to seek financial backing.

The petition presented to council on behalf of the committee last Wednesday by Cr Jessica O’Donnell amassed 1168 signatures.

It called on council to provide financial assistance to help the purchase.

Mr Wills said the building was the “most significant historical building in Drouin” and the intention was to secure it as an asset for Drouin.

The petition pointed to the old factory’s potential as a community centre, public meeting place, a development centre and much more by diverse groups of people within Drouin and neighbouring communities.

“Drouin does not possess any reasonablysized public meeting place within the township whilst 24 such facilities exist throughout the municipality.

“In fact, only the recently refurbished space within the library complex could be considered “public” spaces,” the petition said.

Cr Jessica O’Donnell tabled the petition last week, saying it indicated significant support in the community to buy the building and retain it as a community space.

Cr Tricia Jones said a number of people had been working very hard asking for donations to assist with the purchase.

“They are very keen to buy the property. There is no other place in Drouin to host these things,” she said.

Mr Wills said there was still some time for a sympathetic and visionary individual to step forward and partner with the committee but “the sand in the hourglass was running out”. The petition was received by council. Officers will prepare a report for a future council meeting.